Specialist Private BCG Vaccine & TB Testing in London

All appointments are booked online through our booking portal. For a BCG, Mantoux or scar check, choose "Non Travel Vaccination(s) - FIRST Appointment - 1 Person". For the IGRA blood test, choose "Blood Testing Appointment". We do not take bookings by phone or in person.

Two. The first is the Mantoux test, a small injection in the forearm. The second is 48 to 72 hours later, when the result is read and, if it is negative and you want the vaccine, the BCG is given at the same visit. Book the first as "Non Travel Vaccination(s) - FIRST Appointment - 1 Person", and the second as "Non Travel Vaccination(s) - FOLLOW UP Appointment - 1 Person".

For a child, please bring the Red Book so we can keep the vaccination record up to date. For babies born on or after 1 September 2021, also bring the SCID screening result of 'not suspected' (a letter, or a digital result if that is how it was sent), which we need to see before the BCG can be given.

The test itself is always done in person. Only the reading, 2 to 3 days later, can be done virtually from a clear photo you send, which suits people who only need the result or cannot return. If you are having the BCG, the reading is done in person so the vaccine can be given at the same visit.

We run BCG and TB testing appointments every week, Tuesday to Saturday, so waits are short. An IGRA blood test is reported in about 3 working days, and a Mantoux is read 2 to 3 days after the test.

When you book, you pay a deposit, usually £25, to secure your appointment slot. It is not an extra charge. The deposit is deducted from the total cost of your appointment, so it comes off what you pay overall.

No. The deposit is a part-payment that secures your booking and is taken off the total. The remaining balance is paid at your appointment, so please expect to settle the rest when you come in.

Please give at least 48 hours' notice, using the link in your confirmation email or by contacting us. With 48 hours' notice or more, your deposit is refunded minus a small £1 administration fee. With less than 48 hours' notice, or if you do not attend, the deposit is kept as a late cancellation or non-attendance charge, usually £25, which covers the clinical time reserved for you. Slightly different amounts can apply to group bookings, and these are shown when you book. Full terms are in our terms and conditions.

Occasionally, after a clinical assessment, it is not appropriate or safe to give a vaccine, for example if a Mantoux is positive. In that case a £25 consultation fee applies, reflecting the clinical assessment time reserved for you. We will always explain the reasons and talk through your options.

Yes. We vaccinate babies and children who are not eligible on the NHS or who missed their NHS appointment, and we also consider requests from others who want protection on a case-by-case basis.

Yes. We use the only BCG vaccine licensed in the UK, BCG Vaccine AJV, the Danish strain 1331, which is the same vaccine the NHS uses.

Usually a small scar. The vaccine is given into the top layer of skin, and as it heals it often forms a small blister and then a flat scar at the site, which is normal. Some people also get a mild fever or headache. Anything severe or unusual should be checked by a doctor.

Only one dose is given and no boosters are needed. BCG is most effective at protecting young children against the most serious forms of TB, including TB meningitis. The exact duration of protection is not precisely defined.

BCG is recommended for adults at higher risk, such as healthcare and laboratory workers in contact with TB, and some travellers. Adults always have a TB test first to confirm the vaccine is suitable: a Mantoux is the preferred test before BCG, and an IGRA may be used in some cases.

The Mantoux is a skin test that needs two visits, the test and then a reading 2 to 3 days later. The IGRA is a blood test that needs only one visit, with the result in about 3 working days. Both detect TB infection, and a negative result on either is accepted as clearance.

For a skin test, no. To read and certify a Mantoux reliably we need to have administered it ourselves, so a test started elsewhere would need to be repeated with us.

The reading looks for a raised, firm area at the test site. A negative result means you can have the BCG, or use the result as your clearance. A positive result means the BCG is not given, and we will advise you on next steps, which may include further assessment for latent TB, an old, dormant exposure that is not infectious but is worth knowing about.

For most healthcare roles, clinical placements and university courses, a negative Mantoux or IGRA is the evidence required, and our certificate records the date, the reading and any batch number that Occupational Health expects. For visas it depends on the destination: some countries accept a negative Mantoux for entry or residence, which we can provide, but a UK entry visa requires a TB certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic using a chest X-ray, which is a different process we do not offer. It is always worth checking your own requirements, as some employers and countries ask for a particular test.

Yes. If testing is not urgent, we wait four weeks after an MMR or MMRV vaccine, because a recent MMR can interfere with the result and cause a false negative. If you need testing sooner it can still be done, but a negative result may need to be interpreted with caution. Please tell us if you have had an MMR or MMRV in the last four weeks.